{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"623: Standing Out in STEM: Practical Advice for Future Scientists, Engineers and Techies","description":"Welcome back to the College Essay Guy Podcast. Today\u2019s episode is hosted by Tom Campbell, Community Manager & Senior Essay Specialist at College Essay Guy and a former admission officer at Pomona College and Holy Cross. We\u2019ve polled the thousands of students who participate in our live webinars and courses and ask what they\u2019re favorite subject is, and consistently, STEM reigns supreme. By a lot. In this episode, Tom sits down with Jay Zhang, college counselor at College Essay Guy, to dig into the biggest questions students and families have about preparing for and applying to STEM programs. Together, they explore: What students should know about STEM coursework, rigor, and testing\u2014and where there\u2019s more flexibility than most people realize How to think about majors, specialization, and which colleges to consider beyond the usual short list Common STEM student archetypes, including late starters, students unsure which direction to take, those in high-pressure STEM \u201cbubbles,\u201d and students worried that elite summer programs are the only path forward And more.  Jay Zhang holds a B.S. in Microbiology from UCLA and an M.A. in School Counseling from NYU, and he\u2019s spent over a decade helping STEM students navigate selective admissions\u2014especially within the UC system. He\u2019s also a former UCLA scholarship reader and interviewer, so he\u2019s seen exactly what works. Jay brings a strength-based, big-picture approach to STEM planning\u2014and when he\u2019s not counseling students, you\u2019ll probably find him hiking at Crystal Cove or driving all the way from Orange County to LA for his haircut (hey, clearly, this is a man who knows his priorities). We hope you enjoy the episode.    Play-by-Play: 2:14 \u2013 What are some early memories of Jay and Tom learning STEM in school?  5:44 \u2013 Jay shares his background and where he grew up   7:55 \u2013 What are some high school courses that students interested in STEM could plan to take?  11:33 \u2013 What should STEM students know about standardized testing? 14:33 \u2013 How can students better understand different STEM pathways and majors?  17:55 \u2013 What are some lesser-known colleges or programs that students could explore?  24:03 \u2013 What are some strategies for broadening a student's college list? 30:01 \u2013 How can students balance prestige with selectivity and other factors that are important to them in finding the right fit? 32:46 \u2013 How can students explore diverse interests in STEM? 38:52 \u2013 What can high school juniors and seniors  do to show interest in STEM if they\u2019re just getting started? 46:11 \u2013 What helps students in competitive STEM \u201cbubbles\u201d move beyond comparison culture? 50:26 \u2013 How can students build on personal experiences that spark their interest in STEM? 53:30 \u2013 How important are prestigious summer programs for students interested in STEM? 59:25 \u2013 Closing thoughts   Resources: Firestarter Exercise What is STEM? STEM Majors  College Essay Guy\u2019s Personal Statement Resources College Essay Guy\u2019s College Application Hub   ","author_name":"The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions","author_url":"http:\/\/collegeessayguy.libsyn.com\/website","html":"